Locking bar assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved locking bar assembly which includes a bar lock mechanism insertable within aligned lugs formed on a pair of strike plates. The bar lock mechanism comprises a tubular element within which a cylinder lock is mounted. The tubular element has a lock shield passing over a portion of the lock section where a key is inserted to actuate the lock. A tubular element pin member and a set screw insert formed on a sidewall of the tubular element provide the bar locking assembly with additional shear load bearing elements between the lugs and the bar lock mechanism.

United States Patent Walters *Aug. 19, 1975 [54] LOCKING BAR ASSEMBLY3,464,241 9/1969 Wellekens 70/91 3,711,894 1 197 [75] Inventor: RussellW. Walters, Reading, Pa. 3 Walters 16/144 [73] Assignee: BMR SecurityProducts Corporation Reading, p Primary ExammerAlbert G. Craig, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Maleson, Klmmelman and Notice: The portion ofthe term of this Ramer patent subsequent to Aug. 6, 1991, has beendisclaimed.

[22] Filed: May 30, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 365,099

An improved locking bar assembly which includes a Related ApphcatlonData bar lock mechanism insertable within aligned lugsContinuation-impart 0f 277,565, g- 3, formed on a pair of strike plates.The bar lock mecha 1972 nism comprises a tubular element within which acylinder lock is mounted. The tubular element has a lock [1.8. CI. p gover a portion f h lock section where 9 70/370 a key is inserted toactuate the lock. A tubular ele- [51] Ill. Cl. ment p member and a Setscrew insert formed on a [58] held of Search 70/90 sidewall of thetubular element provide the bar lock 70/104 417 ing assembly withadditional shear load bearing elements between the lugs and the bar lockmechanism. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 7Drawing Figures 1,550,435 8/1925 Ganz 70/375 PATENTED M181 9 I975 SHKET1 OF 2 LOCKING BAR ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thispatent application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 277,565 filedAug. 3, 1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,266.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A. Field of the Invention This inventionpertains to the field of locking systems. In particular, this inventionrelates to an improved locking bar assembly which is substantiallyimpervious to external manipulation.

B. Prior Art Locking bar assemblies having bar lock mechanismsinsertable within aligned lugs formed on a pair of strike plates areknown in the art. Some of these prior assemblies include a cylinder lockmounted within a tubular element. However, in such prior assemblies, theend of the tubular element which contains the key insert for cylinderlock is completely open. Thus, one end of the cylinder lock is open tothe external environment. In such cases a wheel puller may be insertedinto the assembly to destroy the cylinder lock.

Additionally, in some prior locking bar assemblies, the main shear loadis taken up by a locking pin inserted into a detent of one of the lugs.When the locking pin is removed from the detent or in some waydestroyed, the bar lock mechanism is removable from at least one of thelugs. In such assemblies, there is no sys tem devised for maintaining alocked condition when the locking pin is removed from within the lugdetent, thus making such assemblies susceptible to externalmanipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved locking bar assembly including apair of strike plates having lug members. A tubular mechanism isinsertable through a base formed within each of the lug members and acylindrical key lock is mounted within the tubular mechanism. Thecylindrical key lock displaces a locking pin through an opening in thetubular mechanism into and out of engagement with at least one detentformed in one of the lug members. The imrpovement comprises a locksecuring mechanism formed substantially near one end of the tubularmechanism for securing the key lock within the tubular mechanismindependent of the locking pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theimproved locking bar assembly showing the bar lock mechanism insertedinto the bores of the lugs formed on a pair of strike plates;

FIG. 2 is a perspective blow-out of the improved locking bar assemblyshowing the individual elements;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bar lock mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the locking bar assembly taken along thesection line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view having a partial section cut out, showing alug member with detents and slotted openings for locking the bar lockmechanism to the lug;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the bar assembly taken along the sectionline 6-6 of FIG. 1; and, I

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the locking bar assembly taken along thesection line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. l-7,there is shown improved locking bar assembly or locking system 10 forconstraining opposing movable section elements or door members 12, 14.The improved locking bar assembly as herein described and detailed issimilar in operation and construction to the locking assembliesdescribed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,894 entitled Locking Bar Assemblyand my copending patent application Ser. No. 277,565, filed Aug. 3,1972, entitled Bar Lock Assembly now U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,266. As will beshown in the following paragraphs, the improvement of locking barassembly 10 includes the concept of providing additional shear loadareas in order to make the subject locking bar assembly 10 moreimpervious to external attack then that shown in the prior art.

In general, improved locking system 10 includes a pair of strike platesl6, 18 having lugs 28, 30 formed thereon. Each strike plate 16, 18 issecured to a respective door member or a movable element 12, 14 throughbolts or other like means passed through bolt openings 32. In operation,each strike plate l6, 18 is secured to door members l2, 14 in a mannersuch that lugs 28, 30 are aligned in substantially a direction definedby arrow 22. Bar lock mechanism 20, comprising tubular element 62 andstandard cylinder lock 56, is movably mounted within bore opening 36 oflug 30. Lock mechanism 20 may be partially inserted into bore opening 34of lug 28 in order to constrain movement of elements 12 and 14.

Bar lock mechanism 20, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes standardcylinder lock 56 having retractable locking pin 58. Lock 56 is securedwithin tubular element 62 and pin 58 is aligned with a through openingin the sidewall of tube member 62 in order to permit passage of lock pin58 therethrough. In order to displace locking pin 58 in a directionsubstantially normal to a line defining the axis of cylinder lock 56,key 74 is inserted into key insert opening and rotated.

Locking pin 58 is insertable into either first or second detent 66, 68shown in FIG. 5 and formed in a wall member defined by bore opening 36of lug member 30. Bar lock mechanism 20 constrains elements l2, 14 toeach other when locking pin 58 is extended into first detent 66 wheremechanism 20 passes through at least a portion of each bore opening 34and 36. Second detent 68 is formed within the wall member of lug 30 at apredetermined longitudinally displaced distance from first detent 66.The separation distance between detents 66 and 68 is substantially equalto the distance necessary for the removal of bar mechanism 20 from boreopening 34 thereby releasing constrainment between plates 16 and 18. Inthis state, key 74 may be rotated, forcing pin 58 into detent 68 andpermitting removal of key 74 from assembly 10. Thus, although barlocking mechanism 20 is locked to lug 30, free movement between elements12 and 14 is attained. As has been described, bar lock mechanism 20includes tubular element 62 with cylindrical key lock 56 mountedtherein. Lock securing element or cover plate 102 is formedsubstantially near one end of tubular element 62 in order to preventremoval of lock 56 from within tubular element 62. Cover plate 102, asshown in FIG.

l, encloses only a portion of the end opening formed within tubularelement 62 and terminates adjacent key insert opening 100 to permitinsertion of key 74 into key lock 56. Therefore, lock 56 may not beremoved from tubular element 62 without destroying cover plate 102. Inthis manner, key lock 56 is secured within tubular element 62independent of the position of locking pin 58.

Cover plate 102 includes cover plate cut out section 104 to permitrotation of key 74 when inserted into opening 100. In construction,tubular element 62 and cover plate 102 are formed in one piece formationand fabricated of hardened steel or some like material which providesfor increased structural integrity when lock 56 is under externalattack.

Cover plate 102 is an important element of improved bar lock assembly10. Plate 102 provides for additional shear load constrainment ofcylinder lock 56 within bore openings 34 and 30 for the followingreason. Most standard cylinder locks 56 include a non moveable shell anda rotating plug (actuated by key 74). The shell and plug are mounted toeach other through a retaining element which fits into an annularshoulder of the plug and passes into the wall of the shell. In manycases, the component positions of the cylinder lock 56 are waste ofbrass or some like material having a relatively low shear loadrestraining capability. In such cases, a wheel puller may be insertedinto the plug and by pulling the wheel puller, the retaining elementwill shear off. Thus the plug may easily be removed from the lock shell.By incorporating cover plate 102 as part of tubular element 62, plate102 blocks the path of removal of the lock plug and adds strength to theentire bar lock assembly 10.

In order to increase the loading bearing shear area when locking pin 58engages detents 66 and 68, additional securement elements between lug 30and tubular element 62 are provided as shown in FIGS. 4-7. Tubular pin106 passes through tubular element 62 and extends beyond the peripheralsidewall of element 62, is shown in FIG. 6. Pin 106 forms an extendedwall element of tubular element 62 and is fixedly secured theretothrough a force fit or some like technique. Thus the length of pin 106is greater than the diameter of bore 36.

Lug member 30 includes lower groove section 108 which passes around theentire circumference of the wall section defined by bore 36. Uppershoulders 110 are longitudinally displaced from groove 108, as shown inFIG. 5, but are connected by longitudinal slot 112. The width of eachsection 108, 1 10, and 112 is of sufficient dimension to allow freemovement of tubular pin 106 therein. Shoulders 1 are longitudinallydisplaced from lower groove 108 at a predetermined distance. When pin106 engages shoulders 110, locking pin 58 is aligned with first detent66. When tubular pin engages lower groove 108, locking pin 58 is alignedwith second detent 68. As will be seen, when pin 106 engages eitherlower groove 108 or shoulders 110, it provides for an additional sheararea constraining tubular element 62 to lug 30.

To provide necessary partial rotation of pin 106 in shoulder 110 andgroove 108, as well as to produce an additional shear load bearing area,tubular groove 72 passing through the outer wall of element 62 isprovided as shown in FIG. 3. Groove 72 is generally U- shaped in natureand has a longitudinally directed base section. Opposing groove leg cutout sections 114 pass in a direction substantially normal to thelongitudinal direction 22 and provide means whereby the entire bar lockmechanism may be rotated partially responsive to the rotation of key 74within insert opening 100.

Set screw passes through threaded set screw opening 71 formed throughthe wall of lug member 30. Set screw 70 engages groove 72 which has awidth slightly greater than the diameter of set screw 70. Thus, it isseen that mechanism 20 (when pin 58 is retracted from detents 66 and 68)is free to move within the path provided by U-shaped groove 72. Movementmay be longitudinal or partially rotatable into opposing leg cut outsections 1 14. i

In the operation defining a constrained condition between elements 12and 14, lugs 28 and 30 are first longitudinally aligned. Bar mechanism20, is moved into engagement with lug 28 within bore 34. Set secrew 70has moved into engagement with lower cut out section 1 14 at the bottomof the base section of groove 72. As bar lock mechanism 20 is moved intobore 34, tubular pin 106 passes longitudinally from lower groove 108connecting slot 112 into shoulder areas 110. Key 74 is rotated withinkey insert which rotates mechanism 20 slightly with respect to lugs 28,30. As mechanism 20 is rotated, pin 106 is also rotated onto shoulderbase surface 116. Pin 106 is impeded from further rotation when itstrikes shoulder wall 118. However, at this point locking pin 58 isaligned with first detent 66 and continued rotation of key 74 forceslocking pin 58 into engagement with detent 66.

Additionally, rotation of mechanism 20 has forced set screw 70 intoengagement with lower groove cutout 114 as pin 106 has moved onto basesurface 116. In this manner, pin 106 on opposing shoulder surfaces 116and set screw 70 in lower cut-out section 114 in combination with pin 58within detent 66 provides a three point shear loading attack restraint(four points if opposing pin contacts are taken as individual restraintareas).

In the operation of lock assembly 10 from a constrained to a releasecondition, mechanisn 20 is maintained patially in bore 34 as shown inFIG. 4. Tubular pin 106 is in contact with soulder base 116, set screw70 is within lower cut-out section 114 and locking pin 58 is alignedwith first detent 66. Key 74 is inserted in insert opening 100 androtated which removes pin 58 from detent 66 and causes a rotation of barlock mechanism 20.

Tubular pin 106, secured to mechanism 20, rotates until it strikesshoulder wall 120 where it is vertically aligned with connecting slot112. Similarly, rotation of mechanism 20 causes set screw 70 to movewithin cutout section 114 to a position where it is aligned withvertical groove 72.

Bar lock mechanism 20 may then be pulled downwardly, removing it frombore 34. During this step, tubular pin 106 passes within connectingslots 112 and enter lower groove 108. Set screw 70 is relatively movedto upper cut-out section 114 within vertical groove 72. When tubular pin106 has reached lower groove 108, bar lock mechanism 20 has beencompletely withdrawn from bore 34.

Key 74 may now be rotated in the opposite direction, thus partiallyrotating mechanism 20. Lock mechanism 20 is rotatively moved until setscrew 70 abuts the frontal edge of cut-out 1 14'. Locking pin 58 is thenaligned with second detent 68 and further rotation of key 74 forceslocking pin 58 within detent 68, thus locking the assembly in anunconstrained or released condition. Key 74 may then be removed from keyinsert opening 100.

It will be noted that bar lock mechanism must be free to slideably movewithin bores 34, 36. To attain this, mechanism 20 sidewalls may becoated with a dry lubricant which will maintain lubricity under extremetemperature conditions from an upward limit of 500F. to a lowtemperature of 200F.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved locking bar assembly including a pair of strike plateshaving lug members, tubular means insertable through a bore formedwithin each of said lug members, a cylindrical key lock within saidtubular means for displacing a locking pin through an opening in saidtubular means into and out of engagement with at least one detent formedin one of said lug members, where the improvement comprises:

each said lug member having an upper surface, a

lower surface and an outer side surface, said upper and lower surfacesformed transverse of said bore within said lug member, said outer sidesurface having at least one larger diameter section and at least onesmaller diameter section, said outer side surface formed between saidupper and lower surfaces;

at least one first mating means formed by at least one of said strikeplates; the different diameter sections of said outer side surfaceforming second mating means, said first mating means of one of strikeplates and said second mating means of said lug member of the other ofsaid strike plates being received one in the other when said bores arealigned;

lock securing means formed substantially near one end of said tubularmeans for securing said key lock within said tubular means independentof said locking pin.

2. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 1 where saidlock securing means comprises a cover plate formed on one end of saidtubular means.

3. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 2 where saidcover plate encloses only a portion of an end opening formed within saidtubular means to permit insertion of a key into said key lock.

4. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 3 where saidcover plate has sufficient opening for permitting rotation of said keyinserted into said cylindrical lock.

5. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 4 where saidtubular means and cover plate are constructed in one piece formation,said tubular means and cover plate being formed of hardened steel.

6. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 1 includingextending pin means for securing said tubular means to one of said lugmembers when said locking pin engages said detent in said lug member,said locking pin engagement within said detent forming a first loadbearing shear point.

7. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 6 where saidextending pin means forms a second and third pair of load bearing shearpoints independent of said first load bearing shear point.

8. An improved locking bar assembly including a pair of strike plateshaving lug members, tubular means insertable through a bore formedwithin each of said lug members, a cylindrical key lock within saidtubular means for displacing a locking pin through an opening in saidtubular means into and out of engagement with a detent formed in apredetermined one of said lug members, where the improvement comprises:

each said lug member having an upper surface, a

lower surface and an outer side surface, said upper and lower surfacesformed transverse of said bore within said lug member, said outer sidesurface having at least one larger diameter section and at least onesmaller diameter section, said outer side surface formed between saidupper and lower surfaces;

at least one first mating means formed by at least one of said strikeplates; the different diameter sections of said outer side surfaceforming second mating means, said first mating means of one of strikeplates and said second mating means of said lug member of the other ofsaid strike plates being received one in the other when said bores arealigned;

an extending pin fixed to said tubular means, at least one indentedshoulder section formed in said predetermined lug member for receivingsaid extending pin thereby to provide a load bearing shear pointindependent of the load bearing shear point of said locking pinengagement with said detent.

1. An improved locking bar assembly including a pair of strike plateshaving lug members, tubular means insertable through a bore formedwithin each of said lug members, a cylindrical key lock within saidtubular means for displacing a locking pin through an opening in saidtubular means into and out of engagement with at least one detent formedin one of said lug members, where the improvement comprises: each saidlug member having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer sidesurface, said upper and lower surfaces formed transverse of said borewithin said lug member, said outer side surface having at least onelarger diameter section and at least one smaller diameter section, saidouter side surface formed between said upper and lower surfaces; atleast one first mating means formed by at least one of said strikeplates; the different diameter sections of said outer side surfaceforming second mating means, said first mating means of one of strikeplates and said second mating means of said lug member of the other ofsaid strike plates beinG received one in the other when said bores arealigned; lock securing means formed substantially near one end of saidtubular means for securing said key lock within said tubular meansindependent of said locking pin.
 2. The improved locking bar assembly asrecited in claim 1 where said lock securing means comprises a coverplate formed on one end of said tubular means.
 3. The improved lockingbar assembly as recited in claim 2 where said cover plate encloses onlya portion of an end opening formed within said tubular means to permitinsertion of a key into said key lock.
 4. The improved locking barassembly as recited in claim 3 where said cover plate has sufficientopening for permitting rotation of said key inserted into saidcylindrical lock.
 5. The improved locking bar assembly as recited inclaim 4 where said tubular means and cover plate are constructed in onepiece formation, said tubular means and cover plate being formed ofhardened steel.
 6. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim1 including extending pin means for securing said tubular means to oneof said lug members when said locking pin engages said detent in saidlug member, said locking pin engagement within said detent forming afirst load bearing shear point.
 7. The improved locking bar assembly asrecited in claim 6 where said extending pin means forms a second andthird pair of load bearing shear points independent of said first loadbearing shear point.
 8. An improved locking bar assembly including apair of strike plates having lug members, tubular means insertablethrough a bore formed within each of said lug members, a cylindrical keylock within said tubular means for displacing a locking pin through anopening in said tubular means into and out of engagement with a detentformed in a predetermined one of said lug members, where the improvementcomprises: each said lug member having an upper surface, a lower surfaceand an outer side surface, said upper and lower surfaces formedtransverse of said bore within said lug member, said outer side surfacehaving at least one larger diameter section and at least one smallerdiameter section, said outer side surface formed between said upper andlower surfaces; at least one first mating means formed by at least oneof said strike plates; the different diameter sections of said outerside surface forming second mating means, said first mating means of oneof strike plates and said second mating means of said lug member of theother of said strike plates being received one in the other when saidbores are aligned; an extending pin fixed to said tubular means, atleast one indented shoulder section formed in said predetermined lugmember for receiving said extending pin thereby to provide a loadbearing shear point independent of the load bearing shear point of saidlocking pin engagement with said detent.